Interchangeable clock dial unit assembly



NOV. 13, 1951 M A, BLQUIN INTERCHANGEABLE CLOCK DIAL UNIT ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 21, 1948 INVENITOR.

NHURICE H. BLOUIN ATTORN EYS.

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STAT L S FAT .N'i' OFFICE INTERCHANGEABLE CLOCK DIAL UNIT ASSEMBLY Application August 21, 1948, Serial No. 45,457

1 2 Ci'aims.

This invention relates to clocks or similar devices in which the passage of time is indicated by the movement of hands or other indicators at predetermined speeds over the fac of a dial.

The dial is commonly numbered from i to 12 but which may be numbered from 1 to 24 to show Continental time. The dial may also vary in shape and style and in system of numbers, and the hands may vary in shape and in relative speed ratio.

It is the general object of my invention to provide a dial unit assembly which may be very easily attached to a clock movement and which may be detached and removed therefrom with equal facility. This invention permits a variet of dial unit assemblies to be carried in stock and. to be quickly and easily combined with any re quired clock movement. A large number of dial and-movement combinations may thus be built up from a comparatively small number of parts, and shipment of desired combinations is expedited.

Important features of the invention relate to simplified constructions by which the dial unit assemblies may be very easily and quickly at-- tached to the desired clock movements.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an enlarged clock movement, with my improved dial assembly mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section and looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown parts of a clock movement M including side plates iii and H and a driven shaft l2 having a bevel gear l4 mounted thereon for continuous rotation.

My improved dial unit assembly includes a frame member 20 having a dial secured thereto by screws 23. The dial 22 is shown herein as having its inner portion depressed and provided with a rectangular arrangement of Arabic numerals from 1 to 12, but Roman numerals in a circular arrangement may be used, or the numbers may run from 1 to 24 instead of from 1 to The middle portion of the frame is upward ly extended as indicated at it and is provided with end lugs 25. The frame 25 is also downwardly extended as indicated at 2% and is provided with shoulders 21.

Each movement side plate l0 and H is provided with upper hooks 3i and lower hooks 35, positioned and spaced to receive the lugs 25 and shoulders 21. The dial unit assembly is thus supported and accurately positioned on the clock movement.

The assembly may be secured in position by a single binding screw it engaging a circular groove or recess Al in a cross pin c2 which extends loosely through openings M in the side plates it and i i. When the screw it is tightened against the pin 52, the pin is firmly seated in the holes i and endwise displacement of the rod 4? is prevented. The lugs 25 and shoulders 2i are also held firmly against the side plate hooks 3t and 3!, thus firmly securing the dial unit assembly on the clock movement.

The dial frame 20 supports a sleeve 59 which provides a bearing for a minute shaft 5!, to the front end of which the minute hand 52 is attached. The shaft M has a bevel gear 53 at its rear end which is engaged and driven by the bevel gear is on the shaft E2 of the movement M.

The minute shaft 5| has a gear 66 engaging a larger gear 6i loosely mounted on a stud 62 secured in the downwardly extending portion 26 of the frame it. A pinion Edis associated with the gear 6i and engages a large ear 55 by which the hour hand [it is rotated.

If a twenty-four hour dial is used in place of the twelve hour dial shown, the gear train between the shaft 55 and the hour hand 56 will be modified in the usual manner to provide the desired ratio.

This gear train is of the usual type and in itself forms no part of the present invention. It is necessary, however, to set the gear 53 in predetermined angular relation with the minute hand 52, so that the dial assemblies may be interchangeable on the movements M.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a time clock, a clock movement, a dial unit assembly, means to detachably and interchangeably support and secure said dial assembly on said clock movement, said movement having side plates with forwardly projecting hooks, and said unit assembly having ooacting portions engaged by said hooks, and positively-acting means to hold said hooks and coactin portions in assembled relation and comprising a cross pin extendin loosely through holes in said side plates and having an annular groove near its center of length, and a screw in said assembly engaging said pin in said groove and underneath said pin.

2. In a time clock, a clock movement, a, dial unit assembly, and means to detachably and interchangeably support and secure said dial assembly'on said clock movement, said movement havingside plates with upper and lower forwardly-projecting and up-turned hooks on the front edge of each plate and said unit assembly having a frame recessed to provide upper and lower portions extending laterally at each side of the middle portion of said frame and positioned to engage and be supported on said hooks, and positively-acting means effective to hold said laterally-extending portions and coacting hooks 15 in assembled relation and from relative vertical displacement.

MAURICE A. BLOUIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Number Name Date 364,971 Staib June 14, 1887 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 186,017 Switzerland Oct. 14, 1935 502,153 Germany July 11, 1930 

